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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Ponto greet Captain Aubrey when he sees him in the market?

2. Why does Aubrey not hold Maturin's closeness to Mrs. Fielding against Maturin?

3. What has Maturin recently purchased?

4. Of what religion are the majority of Mubara's inhabitants?

5. What shop is Captain Aubrey near once when Ponto is around Aubrey?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Aubrey order his crew to do and where does Aubrey go while they are obeying his order?

2. Discuss the goings on of the man Andrew Wray.

3. Where do Aubrey and Maturin encounter each other and why is Maturin there?

4. Describe the situation at the opening of Treason's Harbour.

5. Describe Jack Aubrey.

6. What is it like in Malta and why does that not cheer up the British officers?

7. Why is the Dromedary early and what is the effect of that?

8. How does one gain rank in the British navy and why is that a problem right now for Aubrey?

9. Why do Maturin and Aubrey argue about the diving bell and what do they decide?

10. Why is Aubrey disappointed, but what cheers him up?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Aubrey is an officer and a gentleman and is therefore accorded more respect and trust even in enemy territory than the common sailor. Discuss the following:

1. Does it seem likely that officers are usually more respectable than enlisted men back then? What about today? Why or why not.

2. Aubrey wants to have an adulterous affair with Mrs. Fielding. Do you think this is how an officer and gentleman comports himself? Why or why not?

3. In the present military in the United States, both officers and enlisted can be held for court martial for adultery or having sexual relations with someone of inferior rank. Why do you think this is so? Do you agree with the policy?

4. In the time in which Treason's Harbour is set, an officer's word was assumed to always be good; whereas a non-officer was not considered trustworthy. What is the flaw in this standard? Do you think it affects their morals and the morals of non-officers? How?

Essay Topic 2

Often in O'Brian's series involving Jack Aubrey, his ship and/or life is saved by extraordinary means. Discuss the following:

1. Research and define the literary term "narrative contrivance."

2. Identify and analyze a time in the book when O'Brian makes free use of the technique of narrative contrivance to save Aubrey and his ship in Treason's Harbour.

3. Does the use of narrative contrivance diminish the impact of the plot and the believability of the storyline?

4. Is there any other way O'Brian could have a mixture of suspense and action while at the same time making certain the main characters are not killed?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in Treason's Harbour.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of Treason's Harbour. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors and by the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of Treason's Harbour. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors and by the action?

(see the answer keys)

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